Published online by Cambridge University Press: 03 August 2017
Present and near future advances in astrometry at radio and optical wavelengths will allow at least an order of magnitude increase in the precision with which fundamental reference frames are defined compared with those available ten years ago. A brief review is given of the present status of fundamental celestial reference frames with a view towards defining the problems encountered in establishing a fundamental reference frame and methods of linking these reference frames. An estimate is made of the progress to be made in reference frames over the next ten years.